course lasting from one to two years full-time (or equivalent) providing skills and knowledge for those wanting to work in advanced trade, technical orassociate professional occupations. Reference: Transition from Education to Work, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6227.0).

Basic vocational qualification

award for completion of a course lasting one semester to one year full-time (or equivalent) providing practical skills and knowledge for those wanting to work at the operative level in various fields. Prior to 1993, basic vocational qualifications were included with undergraduate or associate diplomas.Reference: Transition from Education to Work, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6227.0).

a person without post-school qualifications who did not complete the highest level of secondary schooling available at the time they left school.Reference: Transition from Education to Work, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6227.0).

Educational attainment

measures the highest post-school educational qualification attained by the person, with qualifications classified according to the ABS Standard Classification of Qualifications (ABSCQ).Reference: Transition from Education to Work, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6227.0).

Educational participation

all persons enrolled and attending any institution with a primary role of education. Included are schools, higher education establishments, colleges of technical and further education, public and private colleges.Reference: Transition from Education to Work, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6227.0).

Full-time equivalent (FTE)

a measure of the total level of staff resources used. The FTE of a full-time staff member is equal to 1.0. The calculation of FTE for part-time staff is based on the proportion of time worked compared to that worked by full-time staff performing similar duties. Casual staff are excluded. Reference: Schools, Australia (ABS cat. no. 4221.0).

GDP (gross domestic product)

the current price measure which is the sum of all final expenditure, changes in stocks and imports less exports.Reference: Expenditure on Education, Australia (ABS cat. no. 5510.0).

Government outlays on education

total government final expenditure on education services and facilities; government transfer payments paid for the purpose of facilitating education but not intended to be spent directly on educational services (such as personal benefit payments to students and advances to persons for the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS); and other miscellaneous expenditure on education by government. Reference: Expenditure on Education, Australia (ABS cat. no. 5510.0).

Government school

one administered by the Department of Education in each State/Territory.Reference: Schools, Australia (ABS cat. no. 4221.0).

Higher education institutions

includes all institutions providing higher education courses e.g. universities and university colleges, institutes of tertiary education, agricultural colleges, and some institutes of technology. Reference:Transition from Education to Work, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6227.0).

Higher education student

a person for whom there is a full-time, part-time or external enrolment in a course at a higher education institution at the reference date. Data for proportion of 15-24 year olds attending higher education are from Transition from Education to Work (ABS cat. no. 6227.0). State totals are based on the student's usual State of residence. Data for higher education students and overseas higher education students are obtained from Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs administrative data. State totals are the number of students enrolled at all higher education institutions within a particular State or Territory. Department of Education, Trainingand Youth Affairs,Selected Higher Education Statistics.

Non-government school

any school not administered by a Department of Education, but including special schools administered by government authorities other than the State and Territory education departments.Reference: Schools, Australia (ABS cat. no. 4221.0).

an award for attainment as a result of formal learning from an accredited post-school institution. Educational qualifications are classified according to the ABS Classification of Qualifications (ABSCQ) (ABS cat. no. 1262.0). The level of attainment includes higher degrees, postgraduate diplomas, bachelor degrees, undergraduate and associate diplomas, and skilled and basic vocational qualifications. Reference: Transition from Education to Work, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6227.0).

Primary education

full-time education which typically commences around age five and lasts for seven to eight years. It does not include sessional education such as pre-school education. Reference: Schools, Australia (ABS cat no. 4221.0).

School

an educational institution which provides primary or secondary education on a full-time daily basis, or by radio or correspondence.Reference: Schools, Australia (ABS cat. no. 4221.0).

School student

a person who is enrolled in a school and active in a course of study, other than pre-school or Technical and Further Education (TAFE) courses.Reference: Schools, Australia (ABS cat. no. 4221.0).

education which typically commences after completion of primary education, at around age 12 years, and lasts for five or six years. Reference: Schools, Australia (ABS cat no. 4221.0).

Skilled vocational qualification

an award for completion of a course lasting two to four years, and typically involving some on-the-job training, for those wanting to work in a specific vocation, recognised trade or craft that requires a high degree of skill in a range of related activities. Prior to 1993, skilled vocational qualifications referred to trade qualifications only.Reference: Transition from Education to Work, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6227.0).

total government outlays on education plus total private outlays on education less private outlays on education financed by government transfers.Reference: Expenditure on Education, Australia (ABS cat. no. 5510.0).

Trainees and apprentices

persons undertaking vocational training through contract of training arrangements. Contracts of training are legal agreements entered into by employers and trainees who are engaged in employment-based training. Reference: National Centre for Vocational Education Research,Australian apprentice and trainee statistics 1997/98.

Undergraduate diploma

course lasting three years full-time (or equivalent) for those wanting to work as professionals or associate professionals. Reference: Transition from Education to Work, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6227.0).

Unemployment rate

the number of unemployed persons in any group expressed as a percentage of the labour force in the same group.Reference: Transition from Education to Work, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6227.0).

Vocational Education and Training (VET) client

a person aged 15-64 years for whom there is a full-time or part-time vocational stream enrolment in a TAFE college or a course provided by some private or adult and community education providers in the reference year.Does not necessarily equate to individuals, as some people may have more than one enrolment.Reference: National Centre for Vocational Education Research, Australian Vocational Education and Training Statistics: in detail.

Year 12 apparent retention rate

the percentage of full-time students of a given cohort group who continue from the first year of secondary schooling to Year 12. Reference: Schools, Australia (ABS cat. no. 4221.0).